Big Bullets, Nomads match at K1,000

Tom Sangala June 24, 2015

384 1 minute read

The country’s most highly-anticipated local football match between archrivals Big Bullets and Mighty Be Forward Wanderers would cost more next Saturday at the Kamuzu Stadium, after the Super League of Malawi (Sulom) announced increase in the gate charges.

Spectators have been paying K500 to watch league matches from the open stands this season but Sulom has said the Blantyre derby would be at K1,000.

The MBC stand tickets would be at K2,000 each, covered stand tickets are at K3,000 while the VIP tickets are at K5,000.

Sulom treasurer, Tiya Somba-Banda, said they have hiked the gate charges as a way of controlling the crowd since the match would likely attract huge patronage.

This season’s derby would be more than a battle for pride since the two sides are currently in the middle of a tough title chase.

Bullets are two points clear of Wanderers with 23 points from 11 matches but the Nomads have a game in hand.

The Nomads, who are the hosts on Saturday, would be looking to get their title chase back on track after a morale-sucking 0-2 loss to Silver Strikers last Sunday.

Meanwhile, both clubs have called for peace among the fans during this potentially volatile fixture.

“We will use our influential supporters to go to the stands to keep peace. That is what we do all the time. These fans are always on guard to stop anybody who might want to disturb the peace,” said Bullets’ vice general secretary Kelvin Moyo.

“We also appeal to our fans to observe fair play during the match. They must realise that in every match there are three outcomes—a win, draw or loss. Even though Saturday’s result would affect the standings at the top, we urge our fans to accept any result that may come.”

Wanderers’ vice general secretary, Christopher Kananji also appealed to the Nomads’ faithful to uphold peace at the stadium.

“The Nomads fans behave better now. They are no longer violent. We ask them to continue demonstrating good discipline. They must accept whatever result comes out. They should remember that the league is not won in one match. There are more many matches coming up that can help us win the league,” he said.

“We also ask the supporters to desist from going into the dressing room because that may attract fines from Sulom. They must remain in the stands and not invade the pitch.”

Somba-Banda said the body would have a clear picture of the security detail during the match after a pre-match consultative meeting with the two clubs.

Bullets registered a league double over the Nomads last season.